Customs Seize Rp45 Billion Gold in Smuggling Operation at Soekarno-Hatta Airport

Gold smuggling operations overseas have surged following the government’s implementation of export duties and tariffs on gold exports starting late 2025. Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office revealed over a dozen cases of gold smuggling within a month during April-May 2026. ‘Since April to May 2026, the joint team successfully conducted 12 enforcement actions and secured 17.55 kilograms of gold worth Rp 45.73 billion,’ said Head of Soekarno-Hatta Customs Office Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Hengky explained that gold smuggling attempts were carried out via passenger routes at Terminal 3’s international departures. He stated that joint surveillance operations targeting passenger baggage indicated suspicious high-density metals. Inspections revealed gold in various forms and weights concealed in suitcases, pockets, and worn as necklaces. ‘Our enforcement actions are based on surveillance and analysis of international passenger baggage suspected of carrying high-value commodities without complying with export regulations,’ he added. More specifically, he detailed the customs office’s actions on the dozen cases. The first enforcement took place on Thursday, 16 April 2026, when an Indonesian national (ID: LCD) bound for Hong Kong was found carrying 60 gold coins weighing 3,018 grams valued at Rp 7.6 billion. On Tuesday, 19 May 2026, officers thwarted a Chinese national (ID: FH) heading to Hong Kong who was carrying 10 cast gold bars weighing 10 kilograms valued at Rp 26.18 billion. The following day, Wednesday, 20 May 2026, two separate operations targeted Chinese nationals: XWQ carrying two cast gold bars weighing 609 grams worth Rp 1.6 billion, and FCT with two cast bars weighing 680 grams valued at Rp 1.79 billion. A similar trend continued on Thursday, 21 May 2026, with the arrest of WW, a Chinese national carrying three cast gold bars weighing 612 grams valued at Rp 1.61 billion. The peak enforcement occurred on Sunday, 24 May 2026, when seven cases were uncovered, all involving Chinese nationals smuggling cast gold bars. Suspects included ZH with three bars weighing 251.8 grams worth Rp 0.662 billion, ZL with two bars weighing 401.5 grams valued at Rp 1.06 billion, WJ with two bars weighing 392.5 grams worth Rp 1.03 billion, and GJ with two bars weighing 414 grams valued at Rp 1.09 billion.